Process and apparatus for forming grids



" Jul '10, 1928;

6 1,676,366 J. E. SMITH- I PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GRIDS FiledJan. 19, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l IZ {Jig @ll lllllllllllllllll HILQ 14 vJames 561M770 Jh'l 10, 1928. 1,676,366 'J. E.SMITH PROCESS AND APPARATUSFOR FORMING GRIDS Filed Jan. 19, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 l 55 flaw/W 0July 10, 1928. 1,676,366.

- J.'E. SMITH PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMINGxGRl [DS Filed Jan. 19,1923 5 Sheets$heet 3 Fig.1:

I INVENTOR v fiTTORNEY Patented July 19, 1928. I

JAMEs E. SMITH, or WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLV NIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO YISAAC GORDON, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. I

{ PROCESS AND APPARATUS ronronlvnn'e earns.

' Application filed .Tanuary 19 1923. Serial No. 613, 27, Myinventionrelates to a process and apdestroying ordistorting the bars forming theparatus for forming gridsand has for grid members. I have discovered aprocess object to form sheets of any desiredmate'rial and apparatus bywhich such grids can be into grid-like structures by punching .or formedby punching or stamping, one emstaim'ping; i r f I I I bodnnentofwhichis as follows: 1 I Other and furtl1e1"'objects of my inven- A pairof holding units (Figures 8; 9 and 0 tion Will beapparentffrom thefollowing de 14) adapted to hold the grid foi ming scription andIfromthe accompanying draW- material during the stamping andpunchingings of one embodiment" thereof, in which operation. In the pres'entembodiment each W Figure 1, is a general plan of one type of unitcomprises a frame 1 provided with parappamtus; 1 p v p t1t1ons'2 hayingspaces 3 therebetween and Fi 2a section on line 22 of Figure preferably1s provided with asupporting 1 looking in the direction of the'arroWsbut 8C ge' 4' fi g" 1 68 5 the p age :O omitting the base plate;aligning guide rods. I p l5 'Figure 8 a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2)n each side of the holding units is a die looking in thedirection of.the arrows; unit '(F1gu1'esT,-1O, nd 1'3) each of Which Figu'1'e4 aplan: of a completed grid of comprises die members 11 and l2fWith'a thetype chosen for purposes of illustration; space 13. therebetWeen,Cooperating; edges 4 I [nigure 5 a sectionon line 5- 5 of Figure "ofopposite die members may be of any de- 20 4 lookingin the directionofthe arrows; sired shape or length, the embodiment illus- Gave (31031section through a pertPLtQCl showingthe die member 11 NW fill afo'rating'unit showing the p'e'rforating blades fl perating face adaptedto cooperate with in. elevation; I an opposing die member 12 having a V-Figure 7 avertieal section through an upshaped face, so thattheresultant grid con- 25 per die unit showing: die members in elev'a'sists of triangular shaped ribs 43 aud'44 tron; I v v v p v I 7(Figures 4' and 5). The-die members-pref- Figure 8 a vertical sectionthrough an uperably are mounted on aVsupport-ing plate p holdlng unt'showing a. partition in ele- 4 av ng holes 15 1 m i 1 l i vp e ge ti Yoi aligning guide rods, The die" members he i Figure?) a verticalsection through a lower are adapted to pass into the sheet of mate-rholding unit showing a partition in el m- .rlal through spaces 8 in theholding units.

'fi n'; v On one slde. of one of the die members is Figure 10 a verticalsection through a 'p ov a pe gu g (Bend low di unit howi di11191111367145 in 91 12) comprising aseries of perforating blades 35vation; t I a V p :21 mounted on a, supporting plate22 having 1 Figure11 a side elevation of a base and 110195 23 thelmssage of i g g d guiderods; rods; Blades 21 are adapted to pass through Fi e 1235 6 vi f pe fr ti thespaces 13 between the die members 11 unit showing theperforating blades; nd 12- ."40 Figure 13 a bottom View of an upperdieThe various units may be mounted on a unit showingthe die members; base31 (Figure 11) having guide rods :32 Figure 14 a bottom view of an upperholdadapted to pass through holes provided in a ing frame showingpartitions; and v each member inorder to align and keep the Figure 15 isan enlarged View of the. seeparts in proper position, i

4 5 tien illustratedin'Figure 3. In operation the sheet of grid formingSimilar referencecharacters refer tosimmaterial is placed betweenholdingfr'ames 1 ilari parts throughout thedrawings. 1 by means ofhiehit isclampcd in posi- For purposes of illustration theinvention' 1tion. Die members 11, 12 then may be op- (has been described inconnection with a erated to form grid bars43, 44 after Which 50 grid forstorage batteries. It has been nec-' perforating blades Zl'are forcedthrough the Y essary heretofore to manufacture grids of spacesprovidedtherefor to rem0ve the n1athetype illustrated largely by casting, as itterial between the grid bars: Theperforat has'not been possible toWithdraw starn s ing blad% then are removed, next the die w'o'r punchesin astamping operation Without members, and then the holding platestore,

lease the grid. In this manner the various operating parts are withdrawnfrom the plate without any distortion or bending thereof. The plateformed by this embodimentds similar to. that shown in Fi ure f thedrawings comprising a. grid frame tl with partitions 42 between whichrun ribs 43 and 4a with spaces 4:5 therebetween.

When a sheet of ductile material such as lead, is subjected topressurebetween the die units, the lead between the rib formingdiemembers or surfaces 11 andlQ is compressed to the desired thicknesscorresponding to the height of one rib. By reason of thealternate'spacing of the rib-shaping members 12-and the flat-face anvilor rib-backing members 11, the ribs formed are disposedin staggeredrelation.v The alternate ribs are formed on opposite sides of a planeintermediate the original surfaces of the lead sheet. The excessmaterial, due to its ductibility, is forced to flow, by a combinedlateral and. vertical movement, into the spaces13 between the diemembers 11 and 12 toformslugs perpendicular to the plane of the originalsheet of lead and extending on opposite sides of the plane intermediatethe original surfaces. v While forming grids by the method and apparatuswhich Ihave herein described, I

have found that when the proper amount of pressure is applied, the slugsof-excess material will be joined to the rib structure by a very thinribbonof the lead and are readily and easily removed by slight pressureof the blades 21. In some instances mere pressure of the fingers hassufficed to remove the slugs. p

After the slugs of excess material are removed,,the rib structureremains, as isillustratedin Figs. 4; and 5. The ribs are formed inseries between the partitions or crossbars 452. The arrangement of eachsection between the adjacent crossbars 4-2 is similar,

As may be seen froinFig. 5, the bases of the ribs are substantiallyaligned in a plane intermediate the originalsurfaces ofthe lea d a crackand separate between sheet from whichthe grid was formed. The resultingstructure that is thus obtained is de sired in order, that the paste oractive material for the grid may be supported as a unit by the ribsbetween successive partitions or crossbars 42. The tendency of the pasteto adjacent ribs is thus obviated,

Although the ribs are hereinillustrated as triangular or substantiallywill suffice which will permit ready withdrawal fromthe shaping surfacesof the dies. For this reasonanonrrectangular contour having a largerbase dimension than topdimension is desirable It is contemplated thatone or a. plurality of grids may be stamped out at the same time;

so. any contour Many modifications of my invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without departing therefrom or from the scopeof the claims, my invention not being lim ited to the particularembodimentchosen for purposes of. illustration, but comprising a processand apparatus for forming grids from a sheet of grid forming matrial bya stamping or punching operation Without distortion or bending of theformed grid.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: r V

1. The process of formiiig a, grid which comprises clamping a sheet ofgrid forming material between substantially flat holding frames havingspaces therein for the passage of grid forming 'memb'ers, passingf gridforming means through thesplaces in said holding frames to form acompleted grid from said material at one operation and while the grid isclamped in said; holding frames, retractingthe grid forming meansi'rointhe completed grid While the grid still is held by said holdingframes, andfthe'n relleasing the completed grid froin'saidhold ingframes.

The process of forming a gridwliic'h comprises stamping tween oppositelypositioned diesj having spaces therebetween, passing metal remove ingblades through said; spaces the dies are incontact, andretracting themetal removing blades and the dies.

3. The process of forming a; comprises clamping a sheet of grid formingmaterial between holding frames having grid which spaces therein,stampingupa series. of;r1bs

insaidinaterial by aplurality, of cooperat; in g the members passingthrough said spaces and providedwith spacesbetween die members,passing-m'etal removing the spaces between said die members, and movingsaid blades, dies, and frames. from he grid.

4. The process of forming a grid which comprisesdie stamping andtmetalpunching a sheet of grid forming material,todesired shape while held inposition, by clamping frames, and then. removing first the" metalpunches, next the dies, andlast the clamping frames.

5. In an apparatus for forming ilgrids,

clamping frames, ad grid forming inaterial' therebetween and havingspaces for the passage of diamondbers, cooperating die: membersadaptedto pass through the spaces in. said framesfto form ribs in said vmaterial. and, provided with spacesbetween die members; a ildmate rialremovingblades adap d, pas

apted to, hold av sheet; of

. through spaces: between; said d e: members to remove the material;between. ribs,

6. In a grid forming, apparatus, magneto m a g y a mp perate, we prisingclamping frames adapted to hold a up a series of' ribs be;

ad s a r st 7 members,

sheet of gridjforming material therebetween andhavingspaces for thepassage of die ribs in said mat'eriah l 7. In agrid forming apparatus,means to form grid by'a stamping operation com prising clamping framesadapted to hold'a sheet of grid forming material therebetween and havingspaces forthe passage of die members, and material removing bladesadapted to pass through said spaces to leave ribs in said material.

' 8. In a prising cooperating die members adapted to form a rib in asheet of grid forming material and provided with spaces betweenstaggered relative'to a'middle and then expelling-all excess material soformed.

10. The process of forming a staggered-ribs battery grid which consistsin compressing a sheet of lead to form the ribs and causing the excessmetal to flow into spaces between the ribs, and then removing suchexcess metal. i a

11. The process of forming a staggered-rib battery grid which consistsin compressing a sheet of lead to form the staggered ribs as I storagebattery,

desired for the completed grid and expelling the excess metal into solidslugs between the ribs, and then removing such slugs.

12. The process of forming a battery grid which consists in compressinga lead blank between two cooperating dies provided with offsetalternate'die and backing members to form the ribs desired for thecompleted grid andthen removing the excess material.

13. The method of making a storage battery grid of the staggered ribtype which comprises compressing a sheet of lead to form the desiredfinal grid structure and to expel all excess lead into slugs joined tothe grid structure by a-thin ribbon of lead, and then removing-the slugsso formed.

14. The method of forming which comprises compressing a blank sheet toform separate distinct spaced webs alternately extending inwardly fromopposite sides of the blank sheet, simultaneously expelling excessmaterial adjacent the ribs in a lateral direction to form slugs betweenthe ribs and bound thereto 7 s I and cooperating die members adapted topass through said spaces to form I grid forming apparatus, means to'form a grid by a stamping operation com-' tering.

grid for a cause QXCBSS sheet of material and a grid for a ribsoccupying space between a relatively thin portions, and then remov 111gsaid slugs from'the rib-s; t

'15." A machineytor making battery of thestaggered-rib type from sheetline of the final desired grid structure, means for removing excessmaterial ,from 1 between rib outlines, and means for aligning the diemembers with each other and :the excess metal removing means with thedie members 1 116. A grid forming machine, comprising two cooperatingdiemembers provided with recesses of sub-r a plurality ofi'ib-formingstantia-lly V-shape and with cavities between said recesses, therecesses in each memberbeing staggered relative to'ther'ecesses'inrtheof both members reg1s= other and the cavities 17. 'Agrid formingmachine comprising grids" lead comprising twomovable diemembers adapt ed to form'up'on' the sheet of lead the but means'provided with compression surfaces for engaging a blank from which the'grid is to be formed, toprecludelateralmovement thereof, and'twoco-operating die membersprovided with rib-forming surfaces" for formingstaggered ribs "alternately extending from a plane substantiallyintermediate the opposite side surfaces lot the blank.

18. A "grid forming apparatuscompi'is-j ing" two cooperating die membersfor engaging a' blank from WhlCh the" grid is to be formed, said diemembers provided with alternate rib-forming and rib-backing elements andadaptedfor .regis-- try whereby the rib-forming element of one diemember registers with the rib-backing element of the other die member,and means for maintaining such registry.

being severally 19. A battery grid forming apparatus comprising twocompression members sever ally provided with alternate rib-forming andrib-backingportions, means for aligning the rib-forming member with 0thportions of each compression the r b-backing members of the orcompression member, and meansfor,

removing the excess material between the formed ribs.

20. A battery grid forming apparatus comprising two die membersrespectively provided with alternate rib-forming recesses andrib-backing portions, means for maintaining the die members operativerelation whereby a lead blank may be compressed therebetween to have aplurality of groupsofstaggered ribs, and means for removing'the metalbetween the ribs so formed. 1' i 21. An apparatus for forming storagebattery grids from lead sheet comprising two cooperative die members forforming a plurality of ribs in staggered relation, alternate surface ofthe sheet lead and a mediate the planes of both surfaces, means inpredetermined plane of one plane interoperative relation, theformationofthe ribs between theribs to present a latticework for receivingandsupporting. paste or active niaterial.v i t i 22. An apparatus for,forming storage fromlead sheet, compr sing battery. gridsv twocooperating the members for form ng or outlining a battery grid of thetype, and; a movable member excess material between the. successive ribsso, formed.

23. A machinefor. makingstorage batteryv opposite side surfaces. of:,-the "original; blank and a plane intermediate said surfaces.

24;- A machlne of the character descr bed in claim 23, comprising thesaid die. members which operate, while forming the series of webs,-to:physlcally dlsplace all excess ma terial. adjacent; said. webs toformslugs between said webs perpendicular to the. plane of the blank,and) means. operative after the andm a s' operative, a r,- fortrernovlngm tal staggered-rib for removing shape consisting,

same thickness as the.

formation ofsaid slugs for expelling them to leave the grid ofdesired-form. V

25. A machine of v in claim Qt comprising jthedieme bers of thecharacter described, the means for expelling the excess material, andmeans for controlling proper" operatiye relation between the die membersand the expelling means.

26. A grid forming machine comprising two cooperating die members, berembodying a plurality of spaced web forming surfaces and straight anvilor backing surfaces intermediate successive web forming surfaces andspaced therefrom by openings adapted to receive excess materiah 27'. Agridforming machine comprising:

two cooperating die members, eachdie member. embodying a plurality ofspaced web forming surfaces andstraight anvil orbacking surfaceintermediate successive web formingsurfaces and spaced therefrom; and

means for aligningthe die members in predetermined operative relationwhereby web forming surfaces of each die member are aligned andcooperatewrth anvil or rib; backing surfaces of the other; die membersIn testimony that I claim theforegoing,

have hereunto set my hand: this second day of January, 1923.

JAMES s rr-ri.

the character described each die mem-

